What ingredients should I watch out for?

Ingredients give foods taste and also determine how healthy they are. Some ingredients are so bad that you should avoid or all together stay away from them. Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils are used in margarine, baked goods and junk food. Trans fat comes from these hydrogenated oils and have many serious health effects. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a type of sugar that is added to foods to make them sweeter. You should be careful when buying fruit juices and sodas as manufacturers load them up with HFCS for enhanced taste. Salt is also an ingredient that makes food very tasty but can be harmful. In some people, salt can raise blood pressure which over time leads to damaged artery walls and plaque build up. Salt is used in processed food to preserve and lengthen its shelf life. These are only three ingredients you should watch out for in food but there are many more. The bottom line is that the more processing involved in a food's manufacturing, the more need for ingredients that can be harmful to your health. It is always better to cook your own food than buying food that only needs to be heated up. For more ways on making sure the foods you eat are truly healthy, visit the Nutrition Guide. You can also check out what ingredients other people avoid and share your own tips at the nutrition forums.

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